Life After Johnston

“I have been afforded the unique opportunity to be among the most talented and most creative people.. I am able to garner much more than prescribed coursework but delve into the nuances of language and education. Johnston invites zestful minds who are not afraid of pushing the envelope. Unconventional "majors"? Sure. Leaving indelible imprints? Most definitely. I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.”

Justin Jimenez ('12) currently studies Comparative and International Development Education at University of Minnesota.

“We’re pretty creative and lively people who want to be participants in our education and our lives. That’s why we’re here… Johnston really taught me to be conscious of my impact on the group. In order to create a more sustainable world, we need to understand how our actions affect others.”

Emily Pepin (’09) served in the Peace Corps in Senegal and is now pursuing Masters in Social Work while serving as a reproductive health and parenting educator.

“My experience in the Johnston Program, true to the title, has taught me so much about life and learning. I feel prepared to handle the negotiations of life even after almost two-years here, while also feeling prepared to communicate with people from all over the country and maybe even the world. This program gives me so much freedom and discipline. I will love Johnston and be in debt to Johnston for the rest of my life.”

Ella McCann ('12) now works with the Consulate-General of Japan in Chicago.

"Most importantly, the confidence and self-awareness initially developed for effective curriculum building, contract writing, and existing in the community, are critical components of leadership in a stressful combat environment. On a daily basis, the interdisciplinary mindset that I gained from Johnston has benefited me greatly. I value the way in which Johnston taught me the importance of remaining open-minded to the ideas and opinions of others and yet still staying true to my own beliefs. The skills I acquired to live, interact, and work with people that I really don’t like come in handy frequently in the military.”

Benjamin Gabriel Cook (‘97) has worked in the Marine Corps and in the FBI.

"At the Johnston Center for Integrative studies, I was to design my own curriculum for an emphasis in Art Therapy. The dynamic relationships that I built with community members and faculty enabled me to integrate my education in active ways: I had the opportunity to co-facilitate a course on the subject my freshman year, and started a Johnston art therapy group. Being a part of this intentional community provided me with resources, eager minds always willing to engage with my studies, and challenges to negotiate."

Gaelan Harmon-Walker ('11) currently works as a counselor and art therapist.

"Every step and every interaction is a part of an unending process of engaging, learning, and growing. The personal and holistic Johnston education encouraged me to constantly reflect on this learning process which challenged me to become more pro-actively intentional in the way I move in the world from day to day. My education is not only mine; it is also a part of a living/learning community."

Nina Fernando ('11) works for Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice.

"Psychotherapy requires holding a balance between these two while remaining curious. Johnston was the site of my first encounter with fierce curiosity. Johnston is also where I was first encouraged to think about death. All these influences sent me down my academic pathway toward counseling the dying and grieving, educating doctors on how to deal with end-of-life issues, and directly consulting complex situations surrounding treatment and its withdrawal in life-threatening circumstances.”

“I came to the U of R undecided about what to focus on, Government or Astronomy. Johnston's contracting process helped me to discover the emerging field of space policy, where I could combine – no, integrate — the two. Johnston helped me develop certain negotiating skills to navigate this integration… Interdisciplinary work probably has to be one of the most prevalent Johnstonian talents I utilize in my everyday work activities. It may sound melodramatic, but where I work you have to keep your mind focused on two worlds: political awareness needed to navigate legislation through Congress, and the engineering and science based world of NASA.”

Devin Bryant (‘04) currently works for the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee.

“Consensus building was the most valuable skill that followed me into my profession of giving financial advice. Helping clients gather information, evaluate various outcomes and alternatives, listen to their concerns, offer an informed opinion, and finally arrive at a mutually negotiated course of action is a process used daily in my career. It also means being unafraid to question everything, and unafraid to try anything until finding the right solution for me and for all of those concerned in whatever I am doing.”

Debbie Heap (‘71 & ‘86) was a member of the founding class of Johnston students and is currently a Financial Advisor and Board of Trustee Member at the University of Redlands.